ELSA Reading Comprehension & Analysis 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A passage states: 'While renewable energy sources have grown significantly, fossil fuels still account for over 80% of global energy consumption.' What does this sentence primarily convey?
- Renewable energy has completely replaced fossil fuels
- Fossil fuels remain dominant despite growth in renewables (Correct answer)
- Renewable energy is more expensive than fossil fuels
- Global energy consumption has decreased recently
Correct answer: Fossil fuels remain dominant despite growth in renewables
The sentence contrasts renewable energy growth with fossil fuels' continued dominance at over 80% of consumption.
Question 2: An author writes: 'The committee's decision was not made lightly, nor without considerable deliberation.' Which literary device is used here?
- Simile
- Hyperbole
- Litotes (understatement through negation) (Correct answer)
- Alliteration
Correct answer: Litotes (understatement through negation)
Litotes uses double negatives ('not...lightly, nor without') to emphasize that the decision was taken very seriously.
Question 3: A paragraph begins with a claim, then provides three supporting examples, and ends with a restatement. This structure is best described as:
- Problem-solution
- Chronological order
- Cause-effect
- Point-illustration-explanation (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Point-illustration-explanation
The point-illustration-explanation structure presents a claim, supports it with examples, and reinforces the main idea.
Question 4: The word 'ephemeral' in the sentence 'Social media trends are ephemeral, vanishing almost as quickly as they appear' most nearly means:
- Widespread
- Short-lived (Correct answer)
- Controversial
- Influential
Correct answer: Short-lived
Ephemeral means lasting for a very short time, which is reinforced by 'vanishing almost as quickly as they appear.'
Question 5: A reader notices that a nonfiction author cites only sources that support one viewpoint and ignores contradictory evidence. This is an example of:
- Objective reporting
- Confirmation bias in writing (Correct answer)
- Inductive reasoning
- Chronological fallacy
Correct answer: Confirmation bias in writing
Selectively citing only supporting evidence while ignoring contradictory sources demonstrates confirmation bias.
Question 6: In a passage about urban planning, the author states: 'Green spaces are not a luxury but a necessity.' This sentence is best classified as:
- A statement of fact supported by data
- An opinion presented as fact
- A thesis statement expressing the author's position (Correct answer)
- A concession to the opposing viewpoint
Correct answer: A thesis statement expressing the author's position
The sentence makes a strong declarative claim about green spaces that represents the author's central argument or thesis.
Question 7: A passage compares two policy approaches using the phrase 'on the one hand... on the other hand.' The author's primary purpose is to:
- Argue that one policy is clearly superior
- Present both sides of an issue for balanced analysis (Correct answer)
- Persuade readers to reject both policies
- Provide a chronological history of both policies
Correct answer: Present both sides of an issue for balanced analysis
The transitional phrase 'on the one hand... on the other hand' signals a balanced comparison of two opposing perspectives.
ELSA Reading Comprehension & Analysis 2
A passage states: 'While renewable energy sources have grown significantly, fossil fuels still account for over 80% of global energy consumption.' What does this sentence primarily convey?